001Okay. Uh, hello everyone and uh, welcome to our January 7th board meeting. It's um, hard to believe, but that's our organizational meeting again. >> So, I've never done this before, so I'm just going to kind of go down down here. Um, so we have my name is Elaine and I will serve as president um to open the meeting and now we're going to do oath of office. We have two board members being sworn in tonight by our honorable mayor, Mr. Burbaker. We have Mr. Lenhauser and Mr. and Mrs. Andy Garf being sworn in. So >> go first. >> All right, Annie, you have the honor. Of course you do. Yes. >> What um how what term is this for you, Annie? Third. >> This is my fourth. >> Fourth. Okay. >> Fourth. >> Raise your
002right hand and repeat after me. >> I state your >> She sees this every day. So, >> you okay? >> Yes. >> I state your name. I, Annie Karsttoffen, >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution >> of the United States >> and the Constitution >> of the State of Ohio >> and that I will faithfully >> and impartially >> discharge the duties >> of board of education member >> board of education members >> of the board of education >> of the city school district >> yria Yria >> Lorraine County, Ohio. >> To the best of my ability >> and in accordance >> with the laws >> now in effect >> and hereafter >> to be enacted >> during my continuence >> in set office >> in said office >> and until
003>> my successor >> is elected >> and qualified. >> Congratulations. They'll let you just memorize that, right? >> Yeah. Do it verbatim, right? >> Thank you. Thank you. I can frame it for you if you want. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> You know, if you wanted asking the same question. >> Um, >> how many terms? Oh, how many terms? >> Uh, this is my second term. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Raise your right hand. >> I state your name. >> I Lynhouser >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of Ohio >> and the Constitution of the State of Ohio. and I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully
004>> impartially >> discharge my duties >> as board member >> of the board of education >> of the city of Ayria school district >> yria >> Lorraine County Ohio >> to the best of my ability >> and in accordance >> with the laws >> now in effect >> and hereafter to be enacted >> during my continuous and set office >> during my continuence and set office >> and until >> my successor >> is elected >> and qualified. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Do we date that anywhere? No, we're happy. Okay, there you go. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Okay, moving along. Um, like to call the meeting to order. Madame Treasur, please call the role. >> Miss Garfin, >> here. >> Mr. Gart, >> here. >> Mr. Hower
005>> here. >> Mr. Parker, >> here. >> Mrs. Sein >> here. Okay. All rise for our pledge of allegiance, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Now, we're going to call for nominations for our officers. Um, do we have a motion for office of this nomination? her nomination uh for president. >> Madame Promp, I would like to nominate U. Miss Elaine Siguin for president. >> Second. >> Okay. Do we have a um motion to approve Elaine Siguin as president for calendar year 2026? >> So moved. >> We just kind of I don't Are we doing this right? >> That's right. You're right. We need a second. >> Yep.
006>> Second. Okay. U madam treasurer, please call the role. >> Miss Garfin, >> I. >> Mr. Hower, >> I. >> Mr. Gabard, >> I. >> Mr. Parker, >> I. >> Mrs. Seuin, >> I. Motion carries. And now we need a nomination for vice president. >> Madame promp. I would like to nominate Mr. Mike Gart for vice president. >> Do we have a second? Do we need a second or I don't even know if we need a second for that. Not that we vote, but >> yeah, we just vote. So, >> anyone else? >> So, do we have a motion >> for um nomination for Mike Ghart? >> Motion. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Madam treasure, please call the role. >> Mr. Hower, >> I. >> Mr. Parker, >> I. >> Miss
007Christopher, >> I. >> Mr. Gabart, >> I. >> Mrs. Sewin, >> I. Motion carries. >> Okay. So, assumption of chair, I assume we're just Are you moving? >> You have to move, do you? >> Oh. Oh, Andy. >> I don't Are you officially moving? You don't have to move. >> Do you want to move? >> No. >> They just have to slide the little thing out there. I always want to sit next to Ann. >> There you go. Yes. >> You want to sit next to Mike? >> Mike to sit. >> He likes to be the rose between two hands. >> Okay, >> that's perfect right there. He's trying to get away from me. >> All right. He's doing it pretty fast. >> Sit down and do this. >> All right, let's get down to
008business. >> Okay, so moving along. Um, lots of business items. Um, the board um, in order that each board of education meeting be orderly and well managed. The LIA Board of Education annually adopts Robert's rules of order. Robert's rules of order will serve as the guidelines for all board meetings, whether they are work sessions, business meetings, or special meetings. Then we also um have attached the board meeting schedule um to establish regular board meeting dates on the first and third Wednesday of the month except we're noted unless changed by formal action of this board per enclosure F3. student teachers. Uh be it resolved that the authority is given to the superintendent or designe to approve agreements with universities and colleges to place student teachers and field experience students in the Ayria city school districts during
009the calendar year 2026. Uh reading of the minutes. Uh, be it resolved by the board of education of the Liria City School District that the authority be hereby given to wave the formal reading of the minutes of previous meetings at a regular board of education meeting during calendar year 2026. Board service fund uh to authorize the treasurer to establish the board service fund in the general fund in the amount of $20,000. This is for the purpose of paying expenses of the board of education for calendar year 2026. To approve the appointment of the following law firms to represent the LIA board of education and its administration in matters deemed appropriate for legal services during the calendar year 2026 and those are listed below. uh public records training to appoint the treasurer as the board's design
010for public records training on behalf of all board members according to the Ohio Revised Code and then to approve the appointment of board of education members for the following committee and board assignments. I can send you those. I'll I'll send you those, Colleen, so you can update everything. >> All right, perfect. Um let's see. So now now we just need a motion to approve the items recommended um by the president. >> I'll make the motion. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Madam treasurer, please call the role. Mr. Gart, >> I. >> Miss Garfin, >> I. >> Mr. Hower, >> I. >> Mr. Parker, >> I. >> Mr. Siguin, >> I. Motion carries. So, we have no presentations tonight. Uh, visitors comments. Nobody's signed up. >> Um, I'll just read since it's our
011first meeting of the year. I'll so it's on record. I'll read this quickly. The school board encourages and appreciate citizen interest in meetings of the board of education. Normally, the board will meet twice during the month and will make accommodations to allow public participation. Persons wishing to address the board for up to five minutes may place their name on a sign-in sheet at least five minutes prior to the start of the meeting indicating the topic they wish to address or make a written request to the treasurer's office one week in advance of the board meeting to speak for up to 10 minutes. Each meeting participate will be invited to speak directly to the board so that their remarks may be clearly heard and questions may be asked. Okay, moving along. The meeting minutes from the
012December 10th meeting had been posted. Do we have a motion to approve the board meeting minutes? >> So move. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Madam treasure, please call the role. >> Missurfan, >> I. >> Mr. Hower, >> I. >> Mr. Gabart, >> I. >> Mr. Parker, >> I. >> Mr. Sein, >> I. Motion carries. And looks like we have a lot of treasure action items. >> Yes, we do. Okay. to approve the standard mileage rate for the calendar year 2026 established by the IRS. I believe it went up to 72 cents, but please don't quote me on that. But we will be doing the IRS rate for mileage. To authorize a treasurer of Ly City School District to seek advances during the 2026 calendar year from Lurine County Auditor as they
013become available. to approve the resolution to authorize a treasurer or designate to act as an agent for the board of education to file and sign real estate tax complaints for the calendar year 25 to be heard in calendar year 26 and to express appreciation and acknowledgement to all the following donations. I will not read them all, but it does not mean they're not important. Thank you very much for all the following donations. >> And that is it for the action items. >> Okay. Do we have a motion to approve the treasur action items? So >> second. >> Madam treasurer, please call the role. >> Mr. Parker, >> I. >> Mr. Gabart, >> hi. >> Mr. Carurfin, >> I. >> Mr. Hower, >> I. >> Mrs. Sein, >> I. Motion carries. Treasure or other >> to
014approve the 2025 2026 tax budget and forward it to the Lorraine County Budget Commission for their consideration before January 20th, 2026 as presented and placed on file. And that is it. I have the tax budget. It's going to be posted online. It's going to be sent to the county. And if there's any questions or anything you want to talk about, now is the time. That's it. >> Okay. Do we have a motion to approve treasurer other? >> So move. >> Second. >> Please call the role. >> Miss Garcin. >> I. >> Mr. Parker. >> I. >> Mr. Gabart. >> I. >> Mr. Hower. >> I. >> Mrs. Seuin. >> I. Motion carries. Okay, treasurer report. I do have a small report. I'm not going to get too into the weeds because we're going to have
015a presentation on February 4th. So, I don't want to get anybody too excited about that, but I do want to let everybody know that the property tax reform did pass. Um, there were five bills that came through that I gave you guys a nice little sheet kind of explains what the five bills are, but I wanted to let you know that the property valuations, House Bill 124, 129, 186, 309, and 335 has passed. They are law now. They will property tax growth will be more limited. It's going to affect the school district's revenue coming in. Um, the main one limits on revenue growth for House Bill 129. This revises the 20 mil floor calculation and restricts fixed sum levies reducing the ability districts to realize revenue increases for following appraisals. So what that does is
016all the fixed sum levies that we did have is now included into the 20 mil floor and it knocks us off of the floor. So we will not be seeing that growth. Um it is anticipated to be about $750,000 a year moving forward. So that was a big one that affected us out of these five house bills. Um, and then another thing that happened to us last month was the science of reading reimbursement. The state made everybody do a science of reading. All the teachers participate in that. They we all got reimbursed for that. Everybody that did it, we had to pay for it, the school district, and then we sent it to the state and the state turned around and reimbursed us for that. Um, the state's budget didn't budget all the expenses and
017last month went to school districts and took some of that back. So, they took over $20,000 back from that science of reading that we paid for all the teachers. So, we got hit again on that. Um, there will be more information in February. We'll have a presentation. I will also be doing my 5-year forecast presentation in February because it is not due anymore in May. It is now due at the end of February. So, I'll be talking more about it, but I wanted to let you know that the property tax reform did pass. >> And that's it. >> Okay. Thank you, Colleen. Mhm. >> Okay. Superintendent action items. >> Thank you. First of all, to approve the contract for the Special Olympics Secretaryt Treasurer. This is one of our building support associates, Jazelle, over at
018the village who is taking that position over this year. And we welcome her in there. Also to approve the easement for Martins's run lateral as detailed in the enclosure. And we do have some guests here. if anyone has any questions. I'll get through this first and then if you do have questions. Also to approve the National Youth Advocate Program contract um for the 2526 that is a counseling service that some of our kids um use. And that concludes my action items. >> Okay. Do we have a motion to approve um the superintendent's action items? >> Second. Please call the role. >> Uh, Mr. Gart, >> hi. >> No questions, Mr. >> Actually. Yeah. Can you just explain to the greater good what we're talking about with the easement, Rick? >> Well, there's a ditch that
019runs along the western edge of the Crestwood property uh that eventually crosses over uh Griswald and goes under the t uh the highways there. That is a Martins Run lateral that eventually connects over to Martins Run ditch off of Murray Ridge there. Uh we've had some issues in the past with flooding on the ditch in a heavy rain uh event. Uh, and we've discovered that all the the roof water from the parking lots and the in the roof of the of Crestwood flow to the ditch. And as it uh tries to enter in some culvert pipes and into the the ditch, it goes around a couple of beds. it starts to back up right there at the end of Ammer at the um southern end of Amarillis and that'll back up into some of the
020houses uh the rear buildings over on Manor Drive. So, in order to alleviate some of that flooding, uh we're proposing to or the uh soil and water is proposing on excavating an area I think it was about 300 ft I think it is uh back uh and shape that so that it is a general slope that goes out about 16 ft from the ditch and just creates some storage area for the water so that uh rather than backing up into the properties, it'll collect there and then disperse out as the um under normal conditions. Then uh so the area uh it's going to take away some of the property from mowing uh because you won't have to maintain that area. Uh the vegetation that'll be put in there is the type that uh doesn't have
021to be mowed. And uh they'll be we're asking for the easement to get on the property to perform that work and then also to be able to maintain that work. I believe the uh the actual uh entrance for the to do the work will be coming in off of Amarillis, I believe. So they won't be going across the school property uh to get to it. So >> is it it's not a retention point? No, no. It's It's just kind of a sloped area uh from nothing down to the bottom of the ditch over 16 feet. So, it'll be a general slope, not a uh you know, the kids are over there. They're not It's not something like they're going to fall into or anything like that. >> It doesn't have to be fenced, >> right?
022No. Okay. No. >> And it won't, you know, it'll only hold water during a rain event. it won't uh once it drains off then there won't be any any more water in there than there normally is on there. But we've had issues for a long time with the flooding. Uh so that's this is kind of step one in an overall plan of uh rem remediating the issues there. So >> okay, thank you. Does anyone else have a question? Just want to let you know that Brian and I worked with the township in crafting the language for the easement and uh we were able to discuss the terms and make some decisions and they were very cooperative. >> Good. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. >> So now please call the role. >> Mr. Gart.
023>> I. >> Missurfin. >> I. >> Mr. Hower. >> I. >> Mr. Parker. >> I. >> Mr. Sein. >> I. Motion carries. Okie do. Um or superintendent other is that where I'm at? >> Yes. And uh personnel action items. So I'll go ahead with those. >> First of all, to approve the resignation of the following CLA class classified staff as listed below. To approve the appointment of the following classified staff as described below. Uh to approve the resignation of the following certified staff. Uh Jacob is the school nurse over at the village. Also to approve the appointment of the following sta uh certified staff. We have five new daily substitutes and an ELLL tutor that is grant funded. Um also to approve the retirement of certified staff is detailed below. Terresa Pollock. Teresa taught um
024I think a a good chunk of her days were at Franklin Elementary and then became a title teacher at Westwood Elementary most recently and she has 26 years in the area school. So we wish her well in her retirement as of June 1st. Also to approve the following athletic supplemental contracts for district certified and classified staff for non-district coaches uh volunteer wrestling coach as you can see. And that concludes my personnel action items. >> Okay. Do we have a motion to approve? Superintendent personnel action items. >> A motion to approve. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. Madam Treasurer, please call the role. >> Mr. Hower. >> I. >> Miss Garfin. >> I. >> Mr. Gabart. >> I. >> Mr. Parker. >> I. >> Mr. Sigin. >> I. Motion carries. Do you have a
025report? Um just a um quick one. First of all, um just an add-on on what uh Colleen mentioned about the passing uh or about the pulling out of the science of reading money. I did um and we have a meeting this Friday again with the legislators with the superintendents, but I did let our legislators, specifically Gail Manning know about this and uh she did talk to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the State Board of Ed. I bottom line, um in their mind, the average poll was 10 grand. Obviously, ours was double that, but when you're making $9 million worth of cuts, $20,000 is a lot of money. Um, and the fact that they did not budget appropriately, and we had to incur that cost doesn't sit well and and we made we
026made sure that they knew that um in their planning. Also, uh happy new year everyone. I can't believe we're saying happy new year. Um, but uh as a followup and and I've been trying to uh Colleen and I have been trying to give somewhat of an update, but we are getting closer to finalizing our reduction plan, which we'll present on February 4th. Um I don't know that um unless you live it and understand all the layers and the certifications and the fact that there will be displacements and reductions in forces depending on on you know how that all goes. It's just every layer of the onion you peel back, you find five more things you you have to address. And it's a very um tedious um uh work to do, but yet we want to
027make sure that we hear everyone. And we've met with the union. Um we're meeting again with both memberships to go through the legal opinions that our attorneys have prepared for us on reduction of administrators um classified and certified employees. Um I feel it's very important that we do it right. And obviously, I know that sounds so so simplified, but it is such um an important process to get right and to make sure we're doing everything we can to do what's needed to be done. Uh also um you know, we'll we'll get you the draft as soon as we can. Um, as well also on um January 16th and 17th, Amy, correct me if I'm wrong, The Hope and Heartache of a Diner. It's one act plays from Eastern Heights Middle School Drama Club or is
028it the elementary >> Middle school. Okay. Um, at 7 PM on those two nights, the 16th and 17th, I believe that's Martin Luther King weekend. Um, uh, holiday weekend. So, um, that is at the PE performing arts center, Amy. Yes. So, uh, I've gone to several of the Eastern Heights, um, whether it's elementary or middle school. They do a great job. Fun to watch. As always, our our staff and our our students are so talented. Um, I can't even think about doing those kinds of things back when I was in middle school or or um, elementary. So, it's a great job. Charlene Hartley and and additional staff members working on that. and we thank them for that. We are going to just as an update move the February 4th meeting to the performing arts center
029was a request that I believe Mr. Parker brought up and um this room has a small kind of a smaller capacity, but we know a lot of a lot of our staff um and some community members may want to to um be present for the reduction plan presentation. So, that will be moving. And um other than that, I'm trying to think. I think that that might be it. We have a lot of sporting events and um robotics tournaments and things going on. So, please look at the schedule. We had a great game last night and beat Amherst in basketball. Um I think this Friday is at Mid View and I know we have a girls game coming up. Um I believe It's Saturday, but I'd have to check. It's all online in the calendar. Uh,
030boys and girls wrestling doing very well. I think the girls wrestling team has won several tournaments, bigger tournaments, as well as the middle school wrestling team. Um, uh, boys and girls. So, lot of great things happening in as always. And, um, I encourage everyone to get out and, uh, and see what wonderful things our staff and students are doing. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, board of education. Does anybody have anything? >> Thank you guys for coming tonight. We didn't have many questions, but thank you anyways. All right. Um, executive session. I don't know what to read. I don't think Oh, do we have one >> for the purpose of considering charges brought against a regulated individual? Do >> we have a motion for an executive session? >> I'll make the motion >> for
031what Howard said. Second. >> Um, please call the role. >> Mr. Greart. >> I. >> Mr. Parker. >> I. >> Miss Chrisfan. >> I. >> Mr. Hower. >> I. >> Mr. Sein. >> I. >> Motion carries. We will head off.